NEW DELHI: Former head coach Waqar Younis has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to drop Umar Akmal from the national side after dismal performances in the Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20 in India.

Waqar was peeved when Akmal decided to play in the Caribbean Premier League instead of going through a fitness test in Pakistan.

“Umar Akmal was asked by Haroon Rasheed (former chief selector) to come the next day for fitness test to join the team in Sri Lanka for ODIs, instead he chose to catch a flight to Caribbean for a lucrative league without informing anyone,” the former coach wrote in his report in his report last month.

“Few months later, when he was caught in the Hyderabad incident or misbehaving with his domestic team coach, all times he managed to retain his place back in team. Is this what criteria we are setting for selection of new players?

“Andrew Symonds was a very talented player for Australia or Kevin Peterson for England but due to their behaviour they were dropped and never picked again irrespective of their talent. Are we bold enough to take this step or do we fear media or pressure from different people to play certain players? I can assure you that sacrificing one Umar Akmal will allow us to develop other players who can truly and proudly wear the star on their chest and represent Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan lost to Bangladesh and India in the Asia Cup and then could manage just one win in the World T20. Following the defeat, Waqar resigned from his role of head coach while Shahid Afridi was forced to step down as captain.

Waqar was very critical of Afridi for his leadership skills. “We lost New Zealand, Asia Cup and T20 World Cup due to poor captaincy,” he pointed out. “On several occasions I had made it clear that Shahid Afridi was not performing with bat, ball or captaincy but I was not listened to. Poor tactics, really cost us matches. Meeting was held after the New Zealand T20 series where the boys emphasised that they felt confused with what the captain was telling them to do.

“Afridi did not attend few meetings or practice, a captain leads from the front, not like this. It was unfair how he played Mohammad Nawaz during the game which destroyed the youngster’s confidence.”

Waqar acknowledged interference of the board president in selection matters and revealed that Younis Khan was brought back into the squad for the ICC World Cup 2015 because of the media pressure.

“I attended the selection meeting in Karachi along with Misbah, we had a long and fruitful meeting on several players,” he revealed. “As I arrived back in Lahore, a completely different team was announced which I was not happy with, also after dropping Younis from one series, he was suddenly put back into the team because of media pressure.

“Both Misbah and I were really disappointed and frustrated with this outcome. I met both Shaharyar Khan and Najam Sethi and expressed my grievances to no avail. I was specifically told by Mr Sethi that I had to accept on media that I was happy with team and it was decided in consultation with me.

“I explained that from now on coach should be part of the selection committee, probably head the committee with others being facilitators, this was never heard. I had considered resigning at the time but then thought that on the eve of the World Cup it would not be the right thing to do, I would try my best with what I have,” he said in the report.

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2016